Quick-action toilet hinge-post coupling



Nov. 13, 1962 R. G. BROOKS QUICK-ACTION TOILET HINGE-POST COUPLING FiledSept. 21, 1959 INVEN TOR.

R. G. BROOKS W TTORNE Y 3,063,063 QUlCK-ACTEUN TOILET HINGE-POSTCOUPLING Ray G. Brooks, Tucson, Ariz. (Denison, Tex.) Filed Slept. 21,1959, Ser. No. 841,154 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-236) This invention relates to aquickly detachable toilet hinge-post fastening device. More particularlythe in vention relates to a locking device for the anchoring bolt of atoilet seat hinge that facilitates the quick and easy removal of thetoilet seat from a wall closet or bowl when it is desired to clean thebowl.

An object of the invention is to provide a quick-action coupling whichis adapter to fasten a toilet hinge post securely to a wall closet andyet permit quick and easy removal of the seat without the use of specialtools.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for theanchoring bolt of a toilet seat hinge that is relatively small andcompact in structure and which is conveniently manipulated to effectreleasing of the toilet seat from the bowl.

A further object of the invention is to provide a quick-action couplingfor a toilet seat hinge that is simple and practical in construction,strong and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, andotherwise Well adapted for the purposes for which it is intended.

Other objectives and advantages reside in the details of constructionand operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a water closet showing oneembodiment of the quick-action coupling of the present invention appliedthereto in use;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational View, partly in section, of the embodiment ofFIGURE 1 showing the coupling in locked position;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the embodiment ofFIGURE 1 showing the relationship of the various parts thereof to eachother and to the hin e-post of a toilet seat;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG- URE 1 taken along theline 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Heretofore the threaded anchoring bolts of toilet seat hinge-posts haveusually been secured to a toilet bowl by a nut, a metallic washer and arubber gasket. Such a construction requires the use of a wrench or apair of pliers to remove the nut from the bolt. This discourages theperson cleaning the water closet from removing the seat before cleaningthe bowl. If the seat is not first removed, the area of the bowl whichlies under and be hind the seat hinge structure is very difiicult toclean satisfactorily.

Althou h prior art devices which depart from the aforementionedconstruction facilitate removal of the toilet seat without the use ofspecial tools are known, they have the drawbacks that they do notmaintain the seat tightly on the bowl and they are somewhat ditficult toremove.

My invention, on the other hand, provides a quick action coupling whichfirmly secures the seat to the bowl and which is easy to remove withoutthe use of special tools or the exertion of excess energy.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings wherein one embodimentof the invention is disclosed, the numeral represents the presentquick-action coupling generally including a male coupling member 11, afemale coupling member 12, a sleeve 13 slidably carried ice by thefemale member 12, a locking ball 14 maintained in an opening 16 in thefemale member 12 by means of the sleeve 13 and adapted to seat in adepression or groove 17 in the male member 11, a resilient ring 13 whichis carried in an annular groove 20 on the inside wall of the sleeve 13and adapted to engage first and second annular depressions 21 and 22,respectively, on the outside wall of the female member 12, and athreaded bushing 24 which threadedly engages the upper end of the femalemember 12. A snap ring 25 prevents the sleeve 13 from sliding off thelower end of the female member 12.

The bushing 24 is provided with a faceted flange 26 and a nut 28 wherebywrenches may be applied to secure the bushing in the usual aperture inthe rim 30 of a toilet bowl 32. The female member 12 is also providedwith a faceted flange 34 to which a wrench may be applied to connect anddisconnect the female member 12 to the threaded end portion 36 of thebushing 24.

The male member 11 carries internal threads 37 (PEG. 3) which threadedlyengage the regular anchoring bolt 38 of a toilet seat hinge 39 and isadapted to pass through the bushing 24 with small clearance, and intothe female member 12. The male member 11 is held in place in the femalemember 12 by the locking ball 14 engaging the groove 17 on the lowerportion of male member 11. The inner wall of the sleeve 13 maintains thelocking ball 14 in engagement with the groove 17 when the sleeve 13 isin the position shown in FIGURE 2. The resilient ring 18 maintains thesleeve 13 in this position by frictional engagement with the depression21 in the outer wall of the female member 12. The locking ball 14 isreleased by sliding the sleeve 13 upwardly until the cut-out portion 42of the sleeve 13 receives the locking ball 14'. The sleeve 13 is held inits upper position by frictional engagement with the upper depression22. When the sleeve 13 is in its upper position, the male member 11 isnot locked because the locking ball 14 is out of engagement with groove17. This frees both hands of the person removing the toilet seat 44.

It will be seen that the invention provides a locking device for theanchoring bolt of a toilet seat hinge that facilitates the quick andeasy removal of the seat from a wall closet or bowl when it is desiredto clean the bow].

Many modifications and variations of the invention, as set forth herein,may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the drawing and specification herein are to beconsidered for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation.

I claim:

In a water closet including a bowl having an aperture, a seat, and anexteriorly threaded post for securing said seat relative to said bowland received in said aperture, means for securing said post relative tosaid bowl comprising an anchoring element having a ball-receiving groovenear one end thereof, said anchoring element having interior threadsextending from its other end down to said ball-receiving groove forthreadedly engaging said post, a female member mounted in said apertureand encompassing said anchoring element, said female member having aball-receiving opening therein, a ball mounted in said opening formovement into and out of said groove to lock and release said anchoringelement, and means urging said ball into engagement with said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS651,354 Hogan June 12, 1900 2,434,167 Knoblauch Ian. 6, 1948 2,593,534Campanelli Apr. 22, 1952

